The K-Series 1050K crawler dozer from heavy equipment manufacturer John Deere has received positive reviews following demonstrations at various mining sites across South Africa.

Focused on improving productivity and uptime, and reducing daily operating costs, the 1050K was launched locally on May 31, after initially being introduced to North and West Africa.

“Customers appreciate the multifunctionality of this crawler – as it can be adapted for different applications – its power and its cost-saving features, such as its economic fuel consumption,” says John Deere Africa and Middle East construction and forestry manager Griffiths Makgate.

Equipped with a semi-U or U blade 4 149 mm and 3 987 mm in width, respectively, and a 3 793 kg single- or 4 586 kg multiple-shank rear ripper, the 1050K can tackle several applications at a mine site.

From land clearing, general earthmoving and stockpile levelling to providing dragline assistance, the dozer can also assist with waste dump construction, the ripping and pushing of coal, the moving of rocks or heavy material, and the levelling and preparation of materials for excavations.

With an operating weight of 42 800 kg to 43 100 kg, the 1050K is equipped with a 13.5 l Power Tech engine, which produces 261 kW at 1 800 rpm and 1 576 Nm of torque at 1 300 rpm, delivering the optimal power-to-weight ratio to provide the traction needed to push more material.

“A hydraulic power-pitch option enables the operator to adjust blade pitch on the go from the cab to improve blade control throughout the push. Using programmable return-to-pitch settings, blade-pitch positions can be preset or activated at the touch of a button,” says Makgate.

A dual-path hydrostatic transmission (HST) also enables users to push a full load through turns without losing material. The HST has an independent hydrostatic circuit for every chain, power management, counter rotation, automatic slope brake and automatic dynamic brake.

When combined with the HST, the Power Tech engine produces a “very fuel efficient 1050K”, which is well suited to help customers reduce their operational costs, explains Makgate.

The Power Tech engine also comes with a standard Eco Mode, which burns up to 20% less fuel than conventional torque-converter transmissions without sacrificing performance by automatically adjusting engine rpm and transmission settings based on the load.

The dozer offers African mining operations the benefit of a one-piece welded mainframe that resists torsional stress, absorbs shock loads and delivers maximum strength while allowing for convenient service access to major components.

A smoother ride over troublesome terrain is also delivered by a suspended double-bogie undercarriage, which was unavailable on earlier models.

“The durable undercarriage is built to resist impact and  is designed to reduce peak vibrations in the operator station by up to 75%, reducing breakdowns and wear caused by harsh impacts in rocky environments and boosting productivity,” adds Makgate.

The heavy-duty, extended life undercarriage has a sealed and lubricated track, with the oval-track design having only one wear-causing forward-travel flex point to ensure a longer operating life.

Maintenance costs are also reduced through dedicated hydrostatic and hydraulic system oil tanks, which prevent cross contamination between compartments, owing to extended hydraulic and/or hydrostatic system fluid and filter replacement.

Productivity and efficiency are further enhanced through free access to JDLink telematics, which provides real-time use data and alerts.

As with any other original-equipment manufacturers exporting into Africa, supply chain constraints and import duties are a challenge, but John Deere works closely with customers to manage demand and plan the arrival of machines in line with customer requirements.